I Am (Chrisette Michele album)

I Am is the debut album by American R&B recording artist Chrisette Michele, released in the United States on June 19, 2007 by Def Jam Recordings.

I Am
Studio album by
Chrisette Michele
ReleasedJune 18, 2007 (2007-06-18)
Recorded2006–2007
Studio
Genre
Length56:25
LabelDef Jam
Producer
Chrisette Michele chronology
I Am
(2007)		 Epiphany
(2009)
Singles from I Am
  1. "If I Have My Way"
    Released: May 2007
  2. "Best of Me"
    Released: July 6, 2007
  3. "Be OK"
    Released: December 11, 2007
  4. "Love Is You"
    Released: April 2008

Production

Michele began working on the music that would make up I Am before she had a recording contract, and started promoting her work by visiting events for independent artists. During this time, she caught the attention of L.A. Reid, who later signed her to Island Def Jam, where she got support from producers such as Babyface, will.i.am, and John Legend.

The video for the album's lead single "If I Have My Way" premiered on VH1 Soul. The video for her second single "Best of Me" premiered on July 6, 2007 on Yahoo! Music, and was later added to VH1's video rotation. "Be OK", which features will.i.am, was released as the third single from the album, whose music video was on BET's 106 & Park on December 18, 2007. "Love Is You" was the fourth and final single and was released in 2008.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The A.V. ClubB[2]
Billboardfavorable[3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide[4]
Ebonyfavorable 2007
PopMatters5/10 link
USA Today 2007
The Village Voicemixed 2007

I Am debuted at number twenty-nine on the US Billboard 200, selling about 26,000 copies in its first week.[5] Despite lack of promotion, the album has thus far managed to sell 419,000 units in the United States as of late February 2009.[6]

I Am received generally positive reviews. Internet publication AllHipHop gave the album a stellar rating, stating: "She is Chrisette Michele and with her debut, I Am (Def Jam), this constituent of the House of Hov delivers one of the quietest, yet most powerful albums out there." The album's third single, "Be OK", won the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.

Track listing
I Am – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Like a Dream"
3:59
2."Work It Out"
  • Payne
  • Grant
  • Lindsey
4:21
3."If I Have My Way"
  • Payne
  • Kevin Randolph
  • David Lee Stewart
4:02
4."Best of Me"
  • Payne
  • Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
3:53
5."Your Joy"
4:32
6."Good Girl"
4:04
7."Be OK" (featuring will.i.am)
3:43
8."Mr. Radio"
  • Payne
  • Grant
  • Lindsey
3:54
9."Golden"
  • Payne
  • Joseph Smart
4:23
10."Let's Rock"
4:44
11."Love Is You"
3:17
12."In This for You"
  • Payne
  • Remi
3:41
13."Is This the Way Love Feels"
  • Payne
  • Kelvin Wooten
6:46
14."I Am One" (hidden track)
  • Payne
  • Wooten
3:45
I Am – Japanese edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
15."Good Girl" (Def Jam First Look Live)4:14
16."If I Have My Way" (Def Jam First Look Live)4:05
I Am – iTunes edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
17."Golden" (Def Jam First Look Live)4:28
Sample credits
  • "Good Girl" contains a sample from "Move Over" performed by The Soul Children.
  • "Be OK" contains a sample from "Could You Be Loved" performed by Bob Marley & the Wailers.
  • "Let's Rock" contains a sample from "Here We Go" performed by Run D.M.C.

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Charts

Release history
Country Date Format Label Catalog Ref.
United Kingdom June 18, 2007
Island 14466 [11]
United States June 19, 2007 Def Jam B000877402 [12]
Canada July 10, 2007
Germany July 24, 2007 Universal Music – [13]
Japan November 21, 2007 Universal Japan 91147 [14]
gollark: So why expect the government to actually do *sensible* things if the population is too stupid to be trusted?
gollark: The people in the US also make up the US government, though.
gollark: (That is definitely* a word)
gollark: It's better than specific foods being shipped to you or something, but still somewhat more complex and paternalismy than direct money.
gollark: It's way more general purpose. Money, I mean.

References
  1. 2007
  2. 2007
  3. 2007
  4. "CG: Chrisette Michele". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  5. Hasty, Katie (June 27, 2007). "Bon Jovi Scores First No. 1 Album Since 1988". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  6. Concepcion, Mariel (February 24, 2009). "Chrisette Michele Has An 'Epiphany' On second album". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  7. "I Am – Oricon". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  8. "Chrisette Michele Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  9. "Chrisette Michele Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  10. "2008 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  11. http://www.rakuten.co.uk/shop/youwantitwegotit/product/14466
  12. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-am-bonus-track-version/id257651211
  13. http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/i-am-mr0003103912
  14. http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/i-am-bonus-tracks-mr0001806832
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